Calaveras are short rhyming poems that are associated with the celebrations of the Day of the Dead in Mexico. They have their origins in the famous epitaphs written by Spanish poet Jorge Manrique. Calaveras are written to the “memory” of a person as if they were already deceased. Calaveras about public figures and politicians are often published in newspapers at this time to satire or criticize them. More often, though, Mexicans come up with these playful rhymes to tease their friends or family members.
Here’s an example: My friend Pete is in the grave, He worked until his dying day like a knave, It’s too bad his fancy car, Is the now the property of his brother Omar!
Here is another example: For you, Grammy, I put your false teeth in a glass of water next to the jewelry box with the dancing ballerina on top, and inside, those green glass earrings that I bought you at Uncle Tony’s church rummage sale, and which you wore on Christmas.
Underneath, I put our aprons, the matching ones with red rick rack trimmed pockets, and all my Barbie doll dresses you sewed from Dad’s ties. I sprinkled a little of that pink face powder you used and added some vanilla and molasses. I set out African violets, and dahlias big as lions’ heads, and Christmas wreaths made of coat hangars and Kleenex.
For dinner we’ll have beef stew with celery and just a little flour to thicken the sauce. Can you see them, Grammy? The candles look pretty behind the orange carrot Jell-O molds. And if you come, I promise I’ll sit up straight, just like you always told me to.
Vocab:
angelitos, llittle angles
calacas, playful skeletons
calavera; imaginary obituaries
calaveritas de azucar decorated sugar skulls
Cempoalxochitl marigolds
esqueleto skeleton
ofrenda offering
pan de muertos
papel picado cut tissue paper decorations
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Calaveras are short rhyming poems that are associated with the celebrations of the Day of the Dead in Mexico. They have their origins in the famous epitaphs written by Spanish poet Jorge Manrique. Calaveras are written to the “memory” of a person as if they were already deceased. Calaveras about public figures and politicians are often published in newspapers at this time to satire or criticize them. More often, though, Mexicans come up with these playful rhymes to tease their friends or family members.
Here’s an example:
My friend Pete is in the grave,
He worked until his dying day like a knave,
It’s too bad his fancy car,
Is the now the property of his brother Omar!
Here is another example:
For you, Grammy, I put your false teeth in a glass of water
next to the jewelry box with the dancing ballerina on top,
and inside, those green glass earrings that I bought you at Uncle Tony’s church rummage
sale, and which you wore on Christmas.
Underneath, I put our aprons, the matching ones with red rick rack trimmed pockets,
and all my Barbie doll dresses you sewed from Dad’s ties.
I sprinkled a little of that pink face powder you used and added some vanilla and molasses.
I set out African violets, and dahlias big as lions’ heads, and Christmas wreaths made of coat hangars and Kleenex.
For dinner we’ll have beef stew with celery and just a little flour to thicken the sauce.
Can you see them, Grammy?
The candles look pretty behind the orange carrot Jell-O molds.
And if you come,
I promise I’ll sit up straight,
just like you always told me to.
Vocab:
angelitos, llittle angles
calacas, playful skeletons
calavera; imaginary obituaries
calaveritas de azucar decorated sugar skulls
Cempoalxochitl marigolds
esqueleto skeleton
ofrenda offering
pan de muertos
papel picado cut tissue paper decorations